It's January 31, and we can squeeze in a couple more testimonials from our students before we flip the calendar to February. Today's testimonials are unique because they come from some of our fans on Facebook. Rosie wrote, "I proudly graduated last year! This is a great program and had amazing instructors that helped me with whatever I was having problems with. One I would like to give special thanks to is Steve who helped me through Algebra. He was very patient and I could tell that he loved what he did! This is the best school. I love how it is self paced, and I liked it so much my younger brother is now going through it! Thank you again!!!" Angie wrote, "I am a PROUD American School graduate. It's been (ahem) a few years since I graduated, but I highly recommend it for any self led student. Learning to study on my own set me up for college independence without a teacher or parent guiding me. Thank you, American School!" We thank Rosie and Angie for their comments and for liking us on Facebook. We encourage you to like us there, as well as follow us on Twitter. Those two social media sites, along with this blog, will keep you updated on all the exciting things the American School has planned for 2013!

It's January 30, and American School President Emeritus William Hunding is celebrating a birthday today. Normally this blog doesn't feature employee birthdays, but this birthday is noteworthy because it speaks to the American School's stability and credibility. In our 116-year history, the American School only has had seven presidents. Our founder, R. T. Miller, served as president from 1897-1945. After he retired, James McKinney was president from 1945-1957, and C.M. Elliott followed from 1957-1970. The new decade began with a new president, W.K. Lasher, who served from 1970-1975. William Wright was our leader from 1975-1992, and upon his retirement, William Hunding took over and was president from 1992-2006. Today, Gary R. Masterton is in the seventh year of his tenure as president. Each of our presidents faced the challenges of the day head-on and introduced new courses, programs and services to help the American School remain a leader in distance education. If you enroll today, you'll experience our latest educational advancements and get your accredited high school diploma personally signed by our president after you complete all your graduation requirements.

It's January 29, and on this date in 1845, The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe was published for the first time in a New York City newspaper. Yesterday, on the occasion of Pride and Prejudice's 200th anniversary, we highlighted our English 4: Selected English Classics course. Today it's appropriate that we highlight our English 3: Selected American Classics course because it contains works by Poe and other legendary American authors such as Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, Willa Cather, Herman Melville and many more. After you enroll and complete all of your graduation requirements, "nevermore" will you be without your accredited high school diploma, so get started today!

It's January 28, and 200 years ago today, Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice was published in the United Kingdom. Two centuries later, the novel has been read by millions of people all around the world, including students in our Literature 4: Selected English Classics class. This is the time of year when students start realizing they might be a credit or two short of graduating, and courses like Literature 4 are perfect for credit recovery purposes. Click here for information on enrolling in our Independent Study Program, and make sure you graduate on time with your class this spring.

The American School has a long tradition of employees who devote decades of their lives to helping our students graduate. Past employees have worked for the American School for 40, 50 and even up to 60 or more years, and yesterday the American School took time to honor those employees who have worked for the School for a minimum of 20 consecutive years. These employees are part of the Double Decade Club, and the School is grateful for their service. Below are pictures of the newest members of the Double Decade Club (along with members of the School's Executive Committee) and of the group of Double Decade Club members who attended yesterday's luncheon.

It's January 24, and on this date in 1848, James Marshall found gold at Sutter's Mill near Sacramento, California, and the Gold Rush kicked into high gear. All of us at the American School know that finances are very important to our students and their families. That's why our courses don't cost you a pile of gold. In fact, our non-profit status helps us keeps tuition to an absolute minimum. A full, 18-unit diploma program consisting of paper-based courses costs just $1599, with prices for online courses slightly higher. That's less $90 per course for most students! Earning your accredited high school diploma is one of the best investments you'll ever make for yourself and your future, so get started today!

It's January 23, sometimes abbreviated 1-23, so today is the perfect time to remind you that enrolling in the American School is easy as 1-2-3. First, click the link in this blog entry. Second, once you are on our enrollment page, select the program for which you wish to enroll and fill out the short personal information form. Third, complete the enrollment application and submit payment. The whole process should take around 15 minutes to complete, and just like that, you'll be an American School student!

A little more than a year ago, the American School became an affiliate of Method Test Prep and began offering ACT and SAT prep courses. We realize that some of you may have questions about how Method Test Prep works, so we want to invite you to attend one of their upcoming free webinars. Method Test Prep's courses do not count toward your American School graduation requirements, but we encourage you to take their prep courses so that you can do your very best on your ACT or SAT.

It's January 21, and all eyes are on Washington, D.C. as President Barack Obama begins his second term in office. No matter your political affiliation or even your interest in politics, there is a certain sense of pageantry and patriotism on Inauguration Day. If you take our Social Civics course, you know that Inauguration Day is always on January 20. So why did President Obama sworn in yesterday in a small, private ceremony at the White House and then will take the oath again today on the steps of the Capitol? The official Presidential Inauguration site answers that question and gives you many more details about today's events as well as the 56 previous inaugurations. The site is a great resource, and it, along with watching today's events on television or online, will help you experience American history in new and exciting ways.

It's January 18, and Pauline Phillips, who wrote the nationally-syndicated "Dear Abby" column under the pseudonym Abigail Van Buren, died yesterday. Back in 1986, the American School was featured in one of her advice columns. That column is reprinted below, and, below that reprint, you can see how the May 1986 edition of our All American newsletter reported that news. Click each picture for a larger version.